test content
Logo
What is the Arc Client?
Install Arc
Thoughtful or Engaging Quest Gameplay
eiagra
Member Posts: 70 Arc User
So, Extra Credits did a two-part series on Quest Design, which you can find on YouTube:
Part 1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otAkP5VjIv8
Part 2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ur6GQp5mCYs
I would encourage the devteam to take a look. Especially since, if you look, the NW quest log is indirectly alluded to as not exactly optimal in part one (it's brief, you can blink and miss it, but it certainly made sense for them to use NW as a sort of example).
The reason I bring this up is because I feel Extra Credits make a very good point about quest design, and it's one of the things that has me not wanting to play Neverwinter. If my sister wasn't playing, and I wasn't joining her just so we were doing something together, I probably wouldn't be playing at all.
And that core question that has me questioning whether Neverwinter is worth playing is: Why should I care? The quests I could go on, why should I care about them? The things I do on a daily basis (Sharandar, Dread Ring), how are they interesting? And they aren't. They are very cookie-cutter with a Forgotten Realms coat of paint on them. Go here, do that, quest complete. It's a treadmill, but it isn't stimulating any growth.
Heck, many of my characters are Invoking their way to 60, and the only OC questlines I do are the ones that get me extra storage bags. All those quests that Knox gives, those areas that he sends you to, they just aren't engaging.
So why bring it up? Why not just find greener pastures? Well, because I've invested some time and money into this game, and I'd like to see it be something greater. I played both Neverwinter Nights and NWN2 back in the day, so I'd like to see the Neverwinter name bring more good things to the table. And it's the first implementation of 4E rules that I've experienced that made me not want to cringe and run away screaming back to the warm embrace of 3.5E.
All of that might be wishful thinking, perhaps not even practical thinking, but there it is nonetheless.
I wonder if perhaps there are others who feel a similar sentiment. Or, perhaps, feel opposing sentiments and can explain their viewpoint in a way I just haven't thought about.
Some other videos they made the devteam may find thought-provoking include:
The Skinner Box - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWtvrPTbQ_c
The Magic Circle - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZ-EY9gTsgU
Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h86g-XgUCA8
There are probably others, but there's a lot to wade through, and not all of them are relevant to this particular topic.
So, to the players and devteam both, I ask: what are your thoughts? Is this something you would like to see improved? Or are you content with the traditional MMO quest system as it stands? Do you want these things to have some greater level of engagement, something you can care about? Or is it better and simpler for you if it's just not something you have to spend as much time or energy -- something humans have a limited reserve of -- thinking about?
Does the system pass or fail? Why?
I'm curious what viewpoints these questions will bring.
Part 1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otAkP5VjIv8
Part 2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ur6GQp5mCYs
I would encourage the devteam to take a look. Especially since, if you look, the NW quest log is indirectly alluded to as not exactly optimal in part one (it's brief, you can blink and miss it, but it certainly made sense for them to use NW as a sort of example).
The reason I bring this up is because I feel Extra Credits make a very good point about quest design, and it's one of the things that has me not wanting to play Neverwinter. If my sister wasn't playing, and I wasn't joining her just so we were doing something together, I probably wouldn't be playing at all.
And that core question that has me questioning whether Neverwinter is worth playing is: Why should I care? The quests I could go on, why should I care about them? The things I do on a daily basis (Sharandar, Dread Ring), how are they interesting? And they aren't. They are very cookie-cutter with a Forgotten Realms coat of paint on them. Go here, do that, quest complete. It's a treadmill, but it isn't stimulating any growth.
Heck, many of my characters are Invoking their way to 60, and the only OC questlines I do are the ones that get me extra storage bags. All those quests that Knox gives, those areas that he sends you to, they just aren't engaging.
So why bring it up? Why not just find greener pastures? Well, because I've invested some time and money into this game, and I'd like to see it be something greater. I played both Neverwinter Nights and NWN2 back in the day, so I'd like to see the Neverwinter name bring more good things to the table. And it's the first implementation of 4E rules that I've experienced that made me not want to cringe and run away screaming back to the warm embrace of 3.5E.
All of that might be wishful thinking, perhaps not even practical thinking, but there it is nonetheless.
I wonder if perhaps there are others who feel a similar sentiment. Or, perhaps, feel opposing sentiments and can explain their viewpoint in a way I just haven't thought about.
Some other videos they made the devteam may find thought-provoking include:
The Skinner Box - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWtvrPTbQ_c
The Magic Circle - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZ-EY9gTsgU
Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h86g-XgUCA8
There are probably others, but there's a lot to wade through, and not all of them are relevant to this particular topic.
So, to the players and devteam both, I ask: what are your thoughts? Is this something you would like to see improved? Or are you content with the traditional MMO quest system as it stands? Do you want these things to have some greater level of engagement, something you can care about? Or is it better and simpler for you if it's just not something you have to spend as much time or energy -- something humans have a limited reserve of -- thinking about?
Does the system pass or fail? Why?
I'm curious what viewpoints these questions will bring.
0